Kevin Duffy: AD Manuel has critics, but many of his moves have flourished

Updated 12:29 am, Sunday, May 19, 2013

Former University of Connecticut Coach Jim Calhoun talks with UConn athletic director Warde Manuel after announcing his retirement after 26 years during a media conference at Harry A.Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, Conn. on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012. less

Former University of Connecticut Coach Jim Calhoun talks with UConn athletic director Warde Manuel after announcing his retirement after 26 years during a media conference at Harry A.Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, ... more

Connecticut Athletic Director Warde Manuel pauses during an interview by the Associated Press at his office in Gampel Pavilion on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs, Conn., on Monday, May 7, 2012. Manuel said during he has no plans to name Kevin Ollie or anyone else as a coach-in-waiting for the menís basketball program. Coach Jim Calhoun, who turns 70 this month, is expected to return next season, but has not made his plans public. (AP Photo/Pat Eaton-Robb) less

Connecticut Athletic Director Warde Manuel pauses during an interview by the Associated Press at his office in Gampel Pavilion on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs, Conn., on Monday, May 7, 2012. ... more

Photo: Pat Eaton-Robb, Associated Press

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Connecticut Athletic Director Warde Manuel poses for a photograph inside Gampel Pavilion on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs, Conn., on Monday, May 7, 2012. Manuel said during an Associated Press interview that he has no plans to name Kevin Ollie or anyone else as a coach-in-waiting for the menís basketball program. Coach Jim Calhoun, who turns 70 this month, is expected to return next season, but has not made his plans public. (AP Photo/Pat Eaton-Robb)

Connecticut Athletic Director Warde Manuel poses for a photograph inside Gampel Pavilion on the University of Connecticut campus in Storrs, Conn., on Monday, May 7, 2012. Manuel said during an Associated Press

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, right, speaks with athletic director Warde Manuel, left, after his 800th career win, 63-54 over Notre Dame in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Big East women's tournament in Hartford, Conn., Tuesday, March 6, 2012. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, right, speaks with athletic director Warde Manuel, left, after his 800th career win, 63-54 over Notre Dame in an NCAA college basketball game in the final of the Big East ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

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New University of Connecticut athletic director Warde Manuel, right, holds up a UConn shirt with help from university president Susan Herbst, left, during news conference in Storrs, Conn., Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

New University of Connecticut athletic director Warde Manuel, right, holds up a UConn shirt with help from university president Susan Herbst, left, during news conference in Storrs, Conn., Monday, Feb. 13, ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Former University at Buffalo Athletic Director Warde Manuel wears a championship ring from his former school as he is introduced as the new athletic director for the University of Connecticut at a news conference in Storrs, Conn., Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Former University at Buffalo Athletic Director Warde Manuel wears a championship ring from his former school as he is introduced as the new athletic director for the University of Connecticut at a news ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

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Warde Manuel smiles as he is introduced as the new athletic director for the University of Connecticut at a news conference in Storrs, Conn., Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Warde Manuel smiles as he is introduced as the new athletic director for the University of Connecticut at a news conference in Storrs, Conn., Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

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Warde Manuel, right, smiles as sports information director Mike Enright, left, and university president Susan Herbst, center, announce Manuel as the new athletic director for the University of Connecticut at a news conference in Storrs, Conn., Monday, Feb. 13, 2012. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill) less

Warde Manuel, right, smiles as sports information director Mike Enright, left, and university president Susan Herbst, center, announce Manuel as the new athletic director for the University of Connecticut at a ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, Associated Press

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Kevin Duffy: AD Manuel has critics, but many of his moves have flourished

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As you read this, Warde Manuel is in Florida for the upcoming AAC spring meetings.

Ugh. AAC. I bet you hate that acronym.

I bet you wish the article began like this: Today, Warde Manuel is returning home from the ACC spring meetings.

That sounds better, right? What a difference one letter makes.

Today, UConn fans are rightfully concerned with their school's performance in The Conference Shuffle, a dance the Huskies haven't quite mastered. For this, the past administration is far more culpable than Manuel, who just completed his 14th month on the job.

No, Manuel may not have The Conference Shuffle down pat (it's a difficult, complicated dance), but he's already pulled a few nifty moves. And you know what? Some of his moves are essential to The Conference Shuffle. It's like any dance: Each step contributes to the whole thing.

In order to make UConn as attractive a candidate as possible, Manuel must take care of each step. Here's a rundown of the moves he (and the rest of the athletic department) have made so far:

RAISE THE ROOF (of the new basketball facility): Will a cool facility with lots of memorabilia make the Huskies better basketball players? Of course not. But will UConn attract better players because of the facility? Quite possibly.

Appearances matter, and that's what this $35 million facility will accomplish. When recruits visit UConn, they won't wonder, "Why isn't this place as nice as Louisville?" The plans for this facility were in place before Manuel arrived, but credit goes to his administration for getting that shovel in the ground. In early 2012, UConn had secured roughly $15 million in private funds for the facility. As of April, it had $27 million, a source said.

THE FAIR SHAKE: For the first few months of Kevin Ollie's trial, Manuel wasn't a popular guy. UConn fans were enamored with Ollie, and many felt he immediately deserved a long-term contract.

Looking back, Manuel played the whole thing correctly. He gave Ollie a chance, Ollie proved himself, and then a deal got done. Boom.

In a sense, in an enormous situation early in his career, Manuel lucked out. If a national search was required, that hire was going to be totally on Manuel -- good or bad. But because of Jim Calhoun's late retirement, Manuel was essentially forced to promote Ollie, who just so happened to be the right long-term successor.

Two other important basketball moves that often go overlooked: Manuel worked out a way to keep Calhoun in the athletic department (although the new contract hasn't been finalized) and inked a five-year extension with Geno Auriemma in late March.

In other words, if Paul Pasqualoni isn't "the guy" -- and let's be honest, UConn football desperately needs "the guy" -- why not just cut ties right away?

It's not always so simple. First, these were Randy Edsall's recruits -- not Pasqualoni's -- that went 10-14 in two years. Actually, Pasqualoni is recruiting at a higher level than Edsall ever did.

Secondly, too much turnover is never a good thing. Want proof? Look at some BCS schools that have recently gone through three coaches in four years: Iowa State, Kansas, Boston College, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt and Kentucky. What do they all have in common? A serious case of mediocrity.

Hence, continuity in the coaching staff is crucial. So is $1 million, the buyout for Pasqualoni if he were fired before Jan. 1, 2013.

For all the above reasons, it made enough sense to give him another year.

HEY BOISE, WANNA DANCE?: Boise State is coming to Rentschler Field in 2014. So is BYU. Those are two nice additions to the football schedule, which needed upgrading.

Same goes for men's basketball. Theoretically, UConn's 2013-14 non-league slate could include Maryland (season opener at the Barclays Center); Florida (reported by The Palm Beach Post, but unconfirmed by the UConn athletic department); Indiana (possible matchup in 2K Sports Classic); and Stanford ("close to being finalized," according to a late April Hartford Courant report).

That's a promising start in my book.

ICE, ICE BABY: Wake up and smell the fumes from the Zamboni machine: Connecticut is a hockey state. Its largest university should consistently field a competitive hockey team.

The first big move of the Manuel administration was the program's June, 2012 admittance into the Hockey East, a league that has won four of the past six national championships.

The second move was securing a worthy head coach, a guy who seems capable (at least on paper) of taking the program to the next level. Longtime coach Bruce Marshall resigned in January, and after a lengthy search, Manuel tabbed Boston College associate head coach Mike Cavanaugh as his man. An 18-year assistant at B.C., Cavanaugh played a role in four national titles with the Eagles.

"I'm not afraid to say it," Cavanaugh said at his introductory press conference. "I'm coming here to win national championships."

After all, if Yale and Quinnipiac can get there, why can't UConn?

THE LOGO-MOTION: The logo you know is long gone, already replaced across campus by this feisty, aggressive, unfamiliar Husky dog.

It's almost like getting a new pet. At first, it's natural to miss the old one and all the memories associated with it. But over time, you begin to embrace the present. That's how this should go for UConn fans. Because the new logo isn't bad, it's just different.

Perhaps that's how the league situation will go, too, because the old Big East is never coming back. Right now, it's the AAC.

And right now, in all seriousness, the fan base should be pleased with Manuel. Most of his moves have been hits -- cause for high-fives (the scheduling), raucous applause (an upgraded hockey situation) and pure jubilation (Ollie's long-term deal). In 14 months, he's markedly improved UConn's athletic department. There's no doubt about it.

There's also no doubt about this: In the next 14, the crowd will want to see The Conference Shuffle.